ISLAMABAD: Instead of promoting permanent officers, the Supreme Court has hired five bureaucrats on deputation to fill up senior positions in the Apex Court’s administration, including the post of registrar.
Some of the permanent employees said that the move has made them anxious about their career growth, as well as question why the court hired ‘outsiders’ instead of appointing from among those in the eligible pool.
“Now where is the independence of the judiciary Why are we being deprived of our career,” a senior officer lamented. “If we are incompetent, the administration needs to make arrangements for improving the capability of permanent employees.”
Recently, the Supreme Court hired 21-grade officer Tahir Shahbaz as the top court’s registrar. Hamid Ali, a grade-19 officer, has been appointed the secretary to the chief justice of Pakistan, which is a grade-20 post.
Similarly, representatives of superior bars have also objected to the hiring of officials on deputation especially Supreme Court’s registrar. Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Ramzan Chaudhry said that the post of SC registrar is very sensitive and therefore, it would have been better if the service of any high court or lower judiciary’s judge was hired for this post - as it has been done in the past.
Supreme Court Bar Association president Kamran Murtaza also contended that the appointment of new officers on contractual basis is against the Supreme Court’s rules and it deprives permanent employees of their rights.
Internews
